Exploring Success and Failure Patterns of Sports Start-ups in Iraq: Insights from Thematic Analysis

The purpose of the present study was to identify and explain the pattern of factors influencing the success and failure of sports start-ups in Iraq’s sports industry. This study employed a qualitative approach using thematic analysis based on the six-phase framework proposed by Braun and Clarke (۲۰۰۶). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ۱۵ participants, including managers, founders of sports start-ups, and experts in entrepreneurship and sports, selected through purposive and snowball sampling. The data analysis process included familiarization with the data, initial coding, searching for themes, reviewing themes, naming themes, and producing the final report, through which the conceptual model of the study was developed. To ensure credibility, peer review, triangulation (confirming the consistency of findings with reality), and documentation and confirmation by peers were applied. The findings led to the identification of eight main themes: basic infrastructure, human resources, market and customers, advertising and branding, management and leadership, external environment, innovation and technology and entrepreneurial culture. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the success of sports start-ups in Iraq requires a systemic approach, targeted investment in infrastructure, human resource empowerment, development of market and customer knowledge and effective policy and legal support. In the absence of these elements, even creative ideas and potential capacities will lose the opportunity to become sustainable and profitable activities. Accordingly, the proposed research model can be used as a local analytical framework for designing policies, developing support programs, and assessing the status of the sports entrepreneurship ecosystem in Iraq

کلیدواژه ها:

Iraq ، pattern ، Sports Start-up ، thematic analysis